Jordan

My Talent Match internship experience

During my internship, I supported the Marketing and Operations team of Endeavours Adventures, helping to promote involvement in charity challenges and championing sustainability so that adventure travel can be a global force for good. Key responsibilities included tasks such as analysing and developing the company LinkedIn page, and developing and curating content and new logos for the various social media channels using Canva.

As this was a Talent Match internship, the employer worked closely with 含羞草视频 to support me as an intern so there was a focus on learning and gaining experience while also supporting the needs of company. I was assigned someone to look after me during the time and knew they were there if needed to support in navigating difficult conversations around any issues. 

One thing in particular I learned through this internship was how to critically evaluate and identify the benefits of the services provided by the company and tailor these to the consumer and their values. This will help me in the future as many of the roles I am considering will involve effective communication, marketing, and problem-solving skills to support businesses in overcoming their current issues within the workplace. 

Applying for my internship

Unlike other external internships, it wasn’t an unreasonably long process with lots of stages – it was a simple cover letter, CV and a 30-minute interview. This was ideal as it really took the pressure off, and it felt like a more personable process where I could showcase who I am without my lack of experience getting in the way. It is also highly flexible and can be done alongside your studies. I know when I come to apply for future internships and placements, this opportunity will be extremely valuable as it has given me experience to draw upon when demonstrating transferable skills to employers. 

Prior to the internship I accessed the Careers Network to check over my CV so that it was appropriate and relevant to the company. I also did some interview preparations with the service to create some really good answers pre-prepared so that it was less intimidating.

Reflecting on my experience

I would highly recommend a Talent Match internship to other students for a variety of reasons. The internship has really boosted my confidence, not only in applying for opportunities but also when entering the workplace. By going through the application process, while simple, it gave me a taster of what to expect when applying for a role. It also gave me experience that I could draw upon when applying to places so that I could stand out against other candidates. This meant that I was more comfortable starting applying for roles outside of Talent Match internships. 

Similarly, the internship made me feel more comfortable entering the workplace as a valued employee. Often there’s anxiety going into places that you don’t know or have experience in and feeling like an imposter for being there. However, when you take the first steps and go there, you start to appreciate how skilled and knowledgeable you actually are. It has given me a newfound sense of confidence in my value in the workplace. 

There were so many valuable things I gained from this internship. It allowed me to experience different ways of working which will help me in the future and it also gave me the opportunity to cultivate my transferable skills ready for future interviews with employees in different fields.

My advice

My biggest tip during internships like this would be, if you have any issues, use the support around you and don’t suffer in silence. I would also recommend setting out some goals around what you want to achieve by the end of the internship. This can help you and the employer make the most of your experience. 

Finally, just say yes to many of the opportunities! Whilst it may not be something you are knowledgeable about, it could give you a different perspective on the way things are working in the organisation. It could also give you valuable transferable skills that you may later rely on. Going out your comfort zone is the best way to learn and develop yourself, so just say yes!